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In our current world it is often difficult to see real life through the fake facade of social media and the internet.  We are bombarded with so many biases on what success looks like, what relationships should look like, and political opinions that have strayed farther and farther away from the family.  In times like this it is important to understand the types of relationships that will bring us joy and prioritize them over all else. By scientifically studying the family, we can come to better understand what environments bring the greatest happiness and make personal goals to attain these for ourselves. Although it can be difficult to measure the results from these studies-as emotions vary from person to person, and even more between cultures- we can develop theories by measuring the correlation of situations and their respective outcomes. It is important when developing these theories that we ensure the quality of our study through good samples and fair control groups.

 

In our class this week, we learned about the Supreme Court decision on homosexual marriage. In the information presented to the court, it was found that the children of homosexual individuals were not disadvantaged at all compared to children born to a mother and father.  This study was flawed however as it did not adequately compare the two circumstances. Children with gay parents were compared in many instances to single mothers and single fathers.  This is not a fair comparison if the intended comparison is between homosexual and heterosexual parenting.  once more the results were largely based off the responses of parents and not upon the academic and emotional success of the children themselves.  Once more, the studies were done through convenience sampling and did not represent the American population as a whole.  The study compared privileged Caucasian gay families to less economically stable heterosexual families.  in order to improve this study we could increase the range and circumstances of people surveyed.

 

Other stuff I learned this week!   

 

Entomologists have studied various theories that determine our decision making. Perception, memory, and testimony are major contributors to the way we act.  This makes perfect sense.  Perception is molded over time as the experiences we have shape our view of the world. Therefore, a strong family is so essential. By providing a stable, loving atmosphere for our children we can help them succeed and be good global citizens. As they look to their parents as examples, they will have an easier time developing healthy relationships in the future.  They will have a better idea of how to communicate within marriage and will ultimately be happier.  That is not to say that it is impossible to obtain this coming from a broken home.  It is certainly possible for anyone to attain this dream.  However, as our perception is changed through the environment we grow up in, we can better our children’s chance of success by the types of families we choose to create.  And as we analyze the perceptions of volunteers, we can develop ideas of what works and what does not.

 

Another key component is Testimony.  Religion and schooling have such a huge impact on what we believe.  We trust prophets in the bible to communicate the will of God and choose to live our lives in a way that honors him.   Similarly, schoolbooks and public figures largely impact our views of history and our understanding of the issues surrounding us presently.  Another reason why it is important to be careful in the sources we choose to listen to.  Popularity does not necessarily correlate with wisdom. Celebrities have gained huge platforms through social media and in many cases demonstrate a wild lifestyle that seems fun but does not set us up for future happiness. If we choose to surround ourselves with good media.  Media that preaches cooperation and understanding, we can avoid the pitfalls that have polarized the nation. As we study the influences of religion on human happiness, we will find that regardless of belief, religion instills us with a desire to be good and improve ourselves. As we consider the things we believe, we should be understanding and open to adjustments as we study the habits and circumstances that build happy families.

 

As we develop good, specific questions we can also improve the quality of the information we receive.  By focusing on specific aspects of an issue and using connected key words in our searches, we will narrow the results dramatically.  We must also make sure to ask questions without a desired outcome.  We must fairly analyze the various facts and opinions to come to an unbiased conclusion. By doing this we can come to come better scientifically to comprehend the family and how to create a happy one.